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CONVENTION BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME

The Republic of Austria and the United Arab Emirates, desiring to promote and strengthen the economic relations by concluding a Convention with respect to taxes on income,

Have agreed as follows:

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Article 1 PERSONS COVERED

This Convention shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.

Article 2 TAXES COVERED

(1) This Convention shall apply to taxes on income imposed on behalf of a Contracting State or of its political subdivisions or local authorities, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied. (2) There shall be regarded as taxes on income all taxes imposed on total income or on elements of income, including taxes on gains from the alienation of movable or immovable property, taxes on the total amounts of wages or salaries paid by enterprises, as well as taxes on capital appreciation. (3) The existing taxes to which the Convention shall apply are in particular: a) in Austria: (i) the income tax (die Einkommensteuer) and (ii) the corporation tax (die Krperschaftsteuer); (hereinafter referred to as "Austrian tax"; b) in the United Arab Emirates: (i) the income tax and (ii) the corporation tax; (hereinafter referred to as "U.A.E. tax".

(4) The Convention shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed after the date of signature of the Convention in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any substantial changes which have been made in their respective taxation laws.

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Article 3 GENERAL DEFINITIONS

(1) For the purposes of this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires: a) the terms "a Contracting State" and "the other Contracting State" mean, as the context requires, the Republic of Austria or the United Arab Emirates; b) the term "Austria" means the Republic of Austria; c) the term "United Arab Emirates" means the United Arab Emirates and when used in a geographical sense, means the area in which the territory is under sovereignty as well as the territorial sea, airspace and submarine areas over which the United Arab Emirates exercises, in conformity with international law and the law of United Arab Emirates sovereign rights, including the mainland and islands under its jurisdiction in respect of any activity carried on in connection with the exploration for or the exploitation of natural resources; d) the term "tax" means Austrian tax or U.A.E. tax, as the context requires; e) the term "person" includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons; f) the term "company" means any body corporate or any entity which is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes; g) the terms "enterprise of a Contracting State" and "enterprise of the other Contracting State" mean respectively an enterprise carried on by a resident of a Contracting State and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the other Contracting State; h) the term "international traffic" means any transport by a ship or aircraft operated by an enterprise of a Contracting State, except when the ship or aircraft is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State; i) the term "competent authority" means: (i) in Austria: the Federal Minister of Finance or his authorised representative; (ii) in the United Arab Emirates: the Minister of Finance and Industry or his authorised representative; j) the term "national" means: (i) any individual possessing the nationality of a Contracting State; (ii) any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in a Contracting State. (2) In the application of the Convention by either of the Contracting States, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning which it has under the laws of that State concerning the taxes to which the Convention applies.

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Article 4 RESIDENT

(1) For the purposes of this Convention, the term "resident of a Contracting State" means: a) in Austria: any person who, under the laws of Austria, is liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature; this term, however, does not include any person who is liable to tax in Austria in respect only of income from sources in Austria or capital situated therein; b) in the United Arab Emirates: (i) any individual who, under the laws of the United Arab Emirates is considered a resident thereof by reason of that individual's domicile, residence or any other criterion of a similar nature; (ii) any company or other legal entity which is incorporated or created under the laws of the United Arab Emirates by reason of its residence, domicile, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature; iii) that State itself and any political subdivision, local authority, local government or governmental institution thereof. (2) Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then his status shall be determined as follows: a) he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has a permanent home available to him; if he has a permanent home available to him in both States, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests); b) if the State in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he has not a permanent home available to him in either State, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has an habitual abode; c) if he has an habitual abode in both States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State of which he is a national;

d) if he is a national of both States or of neither of them, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to settle the question by mutual agreement. (3) Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then it shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which its place of effective management is situated.

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Article 5 PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT

(1) For the purposes of this Convention, the term "permanent establishment" means a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on. (2) The term "permanent establishment" includes especially: a) a place of management; b) a branch; c) an office; d) a factory; e) a workshop, and f) a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of natural resources. (3) A building site or construction or installation project constitutes a permanent establishment only if it lasts more than twelve months. (4) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, the term "permanent establishment" shall be deemed not to include: a) the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise; b) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery; c) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise; d) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise or of collecting information, for the enterprise; e) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of carrying on, for the enterprise, any other activity of a preparatory or auxiliary character; f) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e), provided that the overall activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character. (5) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person - other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 6 applies - is acting on behalf of an enterprise and has, and habitually exercises, in a Contracting State an authority to conclude contracts in the name of the enterprise, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in that State in respect of any activities which that person undertakes for the

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enterprise, unless the activities of such person are limited to those mentioned in paragraph 4 which, if exercised through a fixed place of business, would not make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment under the provisions of that paragraph. (6) An enterprise shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in a Contracting State merely because it carries on business in that State through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status, provided that such persons are acting in the ordinary course of their business. (7) The fact that a company which is a resident of a Contracting State controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State, or which carries on business in that other State (whether through a permanent establishment or otherwise), shall not of itself constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.

Article 6 INCOME FROM IMMOVABLE PROPERTY

(1) Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from immovable property (including income from agriculture or forestry) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State. (2) The term "immovable property" shall have the meaning which it has under the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated. The term shall in any case include property accessory to immovable property, livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, usufruct of immovable property and rights to variable or fixed payments as consideration for the working of, or the right to work, mineral deposits, sources and other natural resources; ships, boats and aircraft shall not be regarded as immovable property. (3) The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply to income derived from the direct use, letting, or use in any other form of immovable property. (4) The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 shall also apply to the income from immovable property of an enterprise and to income from immovable property used for the performance of independent personal services.

Article 7 BUSINESS PROFITS

(1) The profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein. If the enterprise carries on business as aforesaid, the profits of the enterprise may be taxed in the other State but only so much of them as is attributable to that permanent establishment. (2) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, where an enterprise of a Contracting State carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated

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therein, there shall in each Contracting State be attributed to that permanent establishment the profits which it might be expected to make if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions and dealing wholly independently with the enterprise of which it is a permanent establishment. (3) In determining the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deductions expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment, including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred, whether in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere. (4) Insofar as it has been customary in a Contracting State to determine the profits to be attributed to a permanent establishment on the basis of an apportionment of the total profits of the enterprise to its various parts, nothing in paragraph 2 shall preclude that Contracting State from determining the profits to be taxed by such an apportionment as may be customary; the method of apportionment adopted shall, however, be such that the result shall be in accordance with the principles contained in this Article. (5) No profits shall be attributed to a permanent establishment by reason of the mere purchase by that permanent establishment of goods or merchandise for the enterprise. (6) For the purposes of the preceding paragraphs, the profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year unless there is good and sufficient reason to the contrary. (7) Where profits include items of income which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Convention, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article. (8) The term "profits" as used in this Article includes the profits derived by any partner from his participation in a partnership and in any other body of persons which is treated in the same way for tax purposes, and in the case of Austria, from a participation in a sleeping partnership (Stille Gesellschaft) created under Austrian law.

Article 8 SHIPPING AND AIR TRANSPORT

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7, profits derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in that State. (2) The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall also apply to profits referred to in this Article derived by a resident of a Contracting State from his participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency. (3) In this Article a) the term "profits" includes: (i) profits, net profits, gross receipts and revenues derived directly from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic;

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(ii) interest on sums generated directly from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic which is incidental to such operation; (iii) income from the sale of tickets on behalf of an aircraft enterprise, and (iv) income from selling of engineering services to a third party and any other income arising from other technical services which are incidental to the operation of an aircraft enterprise; b) the term "operation of ships or aircraft" includes: (i) the charter or rent of ships or aircraft;

(ii) the rent of containers and related equipment, and (iii) the alienation of ships or aircraft, containers and related equipment by that person, provided that such charter, rent or alienation is incidental to the operation by that person of ships or aircraft in international traffic.

Article 9 ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES

(1) Where a) an enterprise of a Contracting State participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of the other Contracting State, or b) the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of a Contracting State and an enterprise of the other Contracting State, and in either case conditions are made or imposed between the two enterprises in their commercial or financial relations which differ from those which would be made between independent enterprises, then any profits which would, but for those conditions, have accrued to one of the enterprises, but, by reason of those conditions, have not so accrued, may be included in the profits of that enterprise and taxed accordingly. (2) Where a Contracting State includes in the profits of an enterprise of that State - and taxes accordingly - profits on which an enterprise of the other Contracting State has been charged to tax in that other State and the profits so included are profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the first-mentioned State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that other State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those profits. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Convention and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall if necessary consult each other.

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Article 10 DIVIDENDS

(1) Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other Contracting State. (2) The term "dividends" as used in this Article means income from shares, "jouissance" shares or "jouissance" rights, mining shares, founders' shares or other rights, not being debt-claims, participating in profits, as well as income from other corporate rights which is subjected to the same taxation treatment as income from shares by the laws of the State of which the company making the distribution is a resident. (3) The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply. (4) Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State derives profits or income from the other Contracting State, that other State may not impose any tax on the dividends paid by the company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other State or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base situated in that other State, nor subject the company's undistributed profits to a tax on the company's undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other State.

Article 11 INTEREST

(1) Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other State if such resident is the beneficial owner of the interest. (2) The term "interest" as used in this Article means income from debt claims of every kind, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor's profits, and in particular, income from government securities and income from bonds or debentures, including premiums and prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or debentures. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this Article. (3) The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the interest, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the interest arises, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent

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establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply. (4) Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the interest, having regard to the debt-claim for which it is paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.

Article 12 ROYALTIES

(1) Royalties arising in a Contracting State and beneficially owned by a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other State. (2) The term "royalties" as used in this Article means payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work including cinematograph films, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience. (3) The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the royalties arise, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply. (4) Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties, having regard to the use, right or information for which they are paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.

Article 13 CAPITAL GAINS

(1) Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of immovable property referred to in Article 6 and situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

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(2) Gains from the alienation of movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State or of movable property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise) or of such fixed base, may be taxed in that other State. (3) Gains from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated by an enterprise of a Contracting State in international traffic or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft, shall be taxable only in that Contracting State. (4) Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.

Article 14 INDEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES

(1) Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of professional services or other activities of an independent character shall be taxable only in that State unless he has a fixed base regularly available to him in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing his activities. If he has such a fixed base, the income may be taxed in the other State but only so much of it as is attributable to that fixed base. (2) The term "professional services" includes especially independent scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities as well as the independent activities of physicians, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists and accountants.

Article 15 DEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES

(1) Subject to the provisions of Articles 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment shall be taxable only in that State unless the employment is exercised in the other Contracting State. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived therefrom may be taxed in that other State. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if:

a) the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in the fiscal year concerned, and b) the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of the other State, and

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c) the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in the other State. (3) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the enterprise operating the ship or aircraft is a resident.

Article 16 TEACHERS AND RESEARCHERS An individual who is or was a resident of a Contracting State immediately before making a visit to the other Contracting State and who, at the invitation of any university, college, school or other similar educational institution or scientific research institution visits that other State for a period not exceeding two years solely for the purpose of teaching or research or both at such educational institution or scientific research institution shall be exempted from tax for a period not exceeding two years in that other State on any remuneration on such teaching or research.

Article 17 STUDENTS

(1) Payments which a student or business apprentice who is or was immediately before visiting a Contracting State a resident of the other Contracting State and who is present in the first-mentioned State solely for the purpose of his education or training receives for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training shall not be taxed in that State, provided that such payments arise from sources outside that State. (2) Remuneration which a student or business apprentice who is or was formerly a resident of a Contracting State derives from an employment which he exercises in the other Contracting State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in the fiscal year concerned shall not be taxed in that other State if the employment is directly related to his studies or apprenticeship carried out in the first-mentioned State.

Article 18 DIRECTORS' FEES

Directors' fees and other similar payments derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as a member of the board of directors of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

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Article 19 PENSIONS

Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 20, pensions and other similar remuneration paid to a resident of a Contracting State in consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in that State.

Article 20 GOVERNMENT SERVICE

(1) a) Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, other than a pension, paid by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State. b) However, such salaries, wages and other similar remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the services are rendered in that State and the individual is a resident of that State who: (i) is a national of that State; or (ii) did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services. (2) a) Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State. b) However, such pension shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the individual is a resident of, and a national of, that State. (3) The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall likewise apply in respect of remuneration paid to the Austrian Foreign Trade Commissioner in the United Arab Emirates and to the members of the staff of that Austrian Foreign Trade Commissioner as well as to the staff of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority in Austria. (4) The provisions of Articles 15, 16, 18, 19 and 21 shall apply to salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, and to pensions, in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof.

Article 21 ARTISTES AND SPORTSMEN

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion picture, radio or television

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artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsman, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State. (2) Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsman in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsman himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsman are exercised. (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 income derived from such activities performed within the framework of cultural agreements concluded between the Contracting States are exempted from tax in the State where the activities are excised only if such activities are sponsored by the Government of a Contracting State or financed by public funds of the Contracting States and the activities are not carried out for the purpose of profits.

Article 22 OTHER INCOME

(1) Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Convention shall be taxable only in that State. (2) The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income, other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 6, if the recipient of such income, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

Article 23 REFUNDS Claims for refund, that shall be produced within the time limit fixed by the law of the Contracting State which is obliged to carry out the refund, shall be accompanied by an official certificate of the Contracting State of which the taxpayer is a resident certifying the existence of the conditions required for being entitled to the application of the allowances provided for by this Convention.

Article 24 METHODS OF ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION

(1) In the case of Austria, double taxation shall be eliminated as follows:

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Where a resident of Austria derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, may be taxed in the United Arab Emirates, Austria shall, subject to the provisions paragraph 3, exempt such income from tax. (2) In the case of the United Arab Emirates, double taxation shall be eliminated as follows: Where a resident of the United Arab Emirates derives income which in accordance with the provisions of this Convention may be taxed in Austria, the United Arab Emirates shall allow as a deduction from tax on income of that person an amount equal to the tax on income paid in Austria. Such deduction shall not, however, exceed that part of income tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable to the income which may be taxed in Austria. (3) Where in accordance with any provision of the Convention income derived by a resident of a Contracting State is exempt from tax in that State, such State may nevertheless, in calculating the amount of tax on the remaining income of such resident, take into account the exempted income.

Article 25 NON-DISCRIMINATION

(1) Nationals of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in the other Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith, which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of that other State in the same circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, are or may be subjected. This provision shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1, also apply to persons who are not residents of one or both of the Contracting States. (2) The taxation on a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State shall not be less favourably levied in that other State than the taxation levied on enterprises of that other State carrying on the same activities. This provision shall not be construed as obliging a Contracting State to grant to residents of the other Contracting State any personal allowances, reliefs and reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents. (3) Except where the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 9, paragraph 4 of Article 11, or paragraph 4 of Article 12, apply, interest, royalties and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable profits of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned State. Similarly, any debts of an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable capital of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been contracted to a resident of the first-mentioned State. (4) Enterprises of a Contracting State, the capital of which is wholly or partly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other Contracting State, shall not be subjected in the first-mentioned State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of the first-mentioned State are or may be subjected.

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(5) The provisions of this Article shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 2, apply to taxes of every kind and description.

Article 26 MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROCEDURE

(1) Where a person considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of those States, present his case to the competent authority of the Contracting State of which he is a resident or, if his case comes under paragraph 1 of Article 25, to that of the Contracting State of which he is a national. The case must be presented within three years from the first notification of the action resulting in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of the Convention. (2) The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at a satisfactory solution, to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other Contracting State, with a view to the avoidance of taxation which is not in accordance with the Convention. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting States. (3) The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of the Convention. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in the Convention. (4) The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each other directly, including through a joint commission consisting of themselves or their representatives, for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs.

Article 27 EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION

(1) The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Convention. Any information received by a Contracting State shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that State and shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) concerned with the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to, the taxes covered by the Convention. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions. Even in such cases the confidentiality of person-related data may be waived only in so far as this is necessary to safeguard predominant and legitimate interests of another person or predominant public interests.

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(2) In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 1 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation: a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State; b) to supply information which is not obtainable under the laws or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the other Contracting State; c) to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process, or information, the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy (ordre public) or to the basic rights granted by a State, in particular in the area of data protection.

Article 28 MEMBERS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS AND CONSULAR POSTS

Nothing in this Convention shall affect the fiscal privileges of members of diplomatic missions or consular posts under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.

Article 29 ENTRY INTO FORCE

(1) This Convention shall be ratified and the instruments of ratification shall be exchanged as soon as possible. (2) The Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the third month next following that in which the exchange of instruments of ratification takes place and its provisions shall have effect in respect of taxes for any fiscal year beginning after December 31 in the calendar year in which the exchange of instruments of ratification takes place.

Article 30 TERMINATION

This Convention shall remain in force until terminated by a Contracting State. Either Contracting State may terminate the Convention, through diplomatic channels, by giving written notice of termination on or before the thirtieth day of June in a calendar year after the fifth year from the date of entry into force of the Convention. In such event, the Convention shall cease to have effect in respect of the taxes for any fiscal year beginning after December 31 in the calendar year in which the notice of termination has been given.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Plenipotentiaries of the two Contracting States, duly authorised thereto, have signed this Convention.

DONE in duplicate in Abu Dhabi on the 22nd day of September 2003, in the German, Arab and English languages, each text being equally authentic. In the case of divergence between the texts the English text shall prevail.

For the Republic of Austria: Karlheinz Grasser

For the United Arab Emirates: Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

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PROTOCOL

At the moment of signing the Convention between the Republic of Austria and the United Arab Emirates with respect to taxes on income, the undersigned have agreed that the following provisions shall form an integral part of the Convention:

Interpretation of the Convention It is understood that provisions of the Convention which are drafted according to the corresponding provisions of the OECD Model Convention on income and on capital or the United Nations Model Double Taxation Convention between Developed and Developing Countries shall generally be expected to have the same meaning as expressed in the OECD or UN Commentaries thereon. The understanding in the preceding sentence will not apply with respect to any contrary interpretation agreed to by the competent authorities after the entry into force of the Convention. The Commentaries - as they may be revised from time to time constitute a means of interpretation. In case of any divergence in the interpretation as expressed in the commentaries of the OECD and the UN Model, a common interpretation would have to be sought by mutual agreement according to Article 26.

Ad Article 4 For the purposes of paragraph 1 of Article 4 the term "resident" in the case of the United Arab Emirates shall include: a) the Government of the United Arab Emirates or any political subdivision, local government or local authority thereof; b) any governmental institutions created under public law such as the Central Bank, funds, corporations, authorities, foundations, agencies or any other similar entities established in the United Arab Emirates; c) any inter-governmental entity established in the United Arab Emirates the capital of which is owned by the United Arab Emirates, such as Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA).

Ad Article 7 paragraph 8 It is understood that in determining the taxable profit of a partnership which forms the basis of the profit share of the partners, expenditure incurred by the partnership will be considered as deductible items according to the general rules of domestic tax law and to the provisions of Article 7 of the Convention.

Ad Articles 7, 10 and 24 It is understood that the transfer of profits of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State from the other Contracting State into the first-mentioned State will not be taxed in the other Contracting State.

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Ad Articles 8 and 13 The provisions of Article 8 and paragraph 4 of Article 13 shall also be applied to profits derived from "Gulf Air", or a successor entity thereof, but only as to such part of the profits as corresponds to the share in such carrier owned by the United Arab Emirates or a government institution thereof. Ad Articles 10, 11 and 13 For the purposes of the interpretation of Articles 10, 11 and 13 it is understood that dividends, interest and capital gains from the alienation of shares in a company, or of securities, bonds or debentures derived by a resident of a Contracting State, including the government, financial institutions or investment companies of that State shall be taxable only in that State of residence. Ad Article 23 Article 23 does not prevent any Contracting State from granting direct relief from taxation for income derived from sources of that State by a resident of the other Contracting State provided that such income is exempted from taxation in the first-mentioned State or subject to a reduced rate according to the provisions of that Convention and the entitlement to the treaty benefits can be proved by a certification of residence issued by the tax authorities of the Contracting State where the recipient is a resident. The provisions of Article 23 shall not lead to any discriminatory treatment of a resident of Austria as compared to the treatment of taxpayers resident in another Member State of the European Union. IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Plenipotentiaries of the two Contracting States, duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.

DONE in duplicate in Abu Dhabi on the 22nd day of September 2003, in the German, Arab and English languages, each text being equally authentic. In the case of divergence between the texts the English text shall prevail.

For the Republic of Austria: Karlheinz Grasser

For the United Arab Emirates: Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

www.ris.bka.gv.at